SAMBA: District Magistrate Samba, Abhishek Sharma today chaired a meeting of district-level NCORD committee in the Conference Hall of the DC office to discuss the issues related to drug trafficking and deliberate on the enforcement actions taken against offenders.

Present at the meeting were ADC, Suresh Chander Sharma, PO ICDS Dr. Subash Chander, ACR Dr. Kusum Chib, and other concerned officers. Building upon the valuable feedback received from the previous meeting, District Magistrate Abhishek Sharma stressed on strengthening the ongoing efforts to curb drug addiction.

One significant suggestion was the designation of Nasha Mukt Brand Ambassadors in all Higher Education and school education institutions.

This initiative aims to raise awareness and engage the youth effectively. Furthermore, the DM instructed the CEO Samba to identify students with a history of absenteeism, as they may be potential drug abusers. SDM and Tehsildars were mandated to conduct surprise inspections, thereby intensifying attendance monitoring.

The Health Department was approached to provide updates on household surveys related to drug-related issues. Additionally, the District Magistrate recommended that the Assistant Labour Commissioner Samba organize special awareness camps and seminars, with a particular focus on industrial and peri-industrial areas. A detailed calendar for these awareness programs is to be prepared by the ALC Samba.

The DSWO was instructed to carry out Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities, emphasizing the significance of community outreach.

At the same time, the sports department was advised to organize evening sports tournaments, with special attention given to the border areas.

The meeting concluded with a strong call to ensure drug de-addiction centers operate with unwavering dedication, recognizing their pivotal role in addressing substance abuse issues.

It was specifically mentioned that the stakeholders should avoid stigmatizing first-time offenders and instead adopt a rehabilitative approach when dealing with individuals involved in drug-related offenses.